OUR TRIUNE TASK

 

to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (2 Timothy 1:11)

Paul alludes to a triune task.  As God is one, but three persons, so we men of God have one call, but three assignments—each one essential and yet all interrelated.

Our triune task involves involves proclamation.  Paul said he was a preacher.  The word literally means, "herald."  The herald's responsibility in the ancient world was to go before the king and prepare the way for his coming.  He was to announce the coming of the King.  John the Baptist's ministry was described in these terms as he readied the people for the first advent of Messiah.  Today, we have the duty to get people prepared for the Second Advent of Christ.  That's why I prepare and present sermons.  I'm acting as a herald for the King.  If God has called you to Gospel ministry then you must preach—if you have to do it on a street corner or a rest home!

Our triune task not only involves proclamation, but penetration.  Paul referred to himself as an,  “apostle.”  The Greek word means, "one who is sent."  Paul was sent to penetrate the regions of spiritual darkness where the light of the glorious gospel had never shone.  In the strictest sense, there are no more apostles since the twelve passed into heaven.  Yet, in a broader sense, the man of God is a sent one.  Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, so send I you."   Paul, in the fourth chapter of this letter commands Timothy to, " do the work of an evangelist..." (II Timothy 4:5).  We are to penetrate every nation, as salt penetrates food and light penetrates darkness, for Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  I would remind you that salt is useless if it remains in the shaker and light is of no value if hidden under a bushel basket.  Our calling is to penetrate the community with the message of Jesus.  While we ought to share the Gospel in the pulpit, we dare not neglect taking it to the people.  A few sinners may enter our building, but most will not.  We are sent into the highways and hedges!

Furthermore, our duty involves preservation.  Paul noted that he was, “a teacher.”  He realized that his mission was not complete when someone was born again.  Birth was not the ending, but the beginning.  If the fruit were to be preserved, he would have to teach those new converts.  You see, gathering the harvest is no good, if the fruit spoils.  Too may times our churches are better at obstetrics than pediatrics.  We reach people for Christ, we baptize them, but before long they become spiritual casualties because we have not equipped them to stand against the onslaughts of the devil.  People must be taught doctrine.  Feeding them the Word of God is what enables them to put roots downward for nourishment and stability, spread their branches upward and outward in worship and influence, and produce fruit Godward and man-ward.

Let us joyfully recommit ourselves to this triune task.  God help us not to let any aspect of this assignment slip.  A three-legged stool cannot stand if even one leg is removed, and we will fail if we shirk even one of these dimensions of ministry.